Mine car coupler



May 6,1958 I CLARK MINE CAR COUPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8. 195'! Hu m m w m? m k\ a m Tlbrlu m .Q .,L n! am MN m N LIE T L m w nw & o\

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ATTORNEYS May 6, 1958 N. CLARK 2,833,424

MINE CAR COUPLER Filed Jan. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 6 //6 l 7 I m M 13 Na than (lei Clar/t INVENTOR v/ BY 7 l I J ATTORNEYS United States Patent MINE CAR COUPLER Nathaniel Clark, Madison, W. Va.

Application January 8, 1957, Serial No. 633,038

1 Claim. (Cl. 213-75) This invention relates to car couplers, and more particularly to couplers designed for coupling mine cars.

An important object of the invention is to provide a mine car coupling which will automatically operate to couple two cars which are brought together end to end, eliminating the necessity of an attendant operating a coupler lever or other operating means to couple the cars.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a coupler which will be exceptionally light and simple in construction, due consideration having been given to the strength and durability of the coupling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coupler including a vertically swinging link movable over a stationary coupling pin carried by the adjacent car, the coupling pin being so constructed and arranged that the link will slide over the coupling pin and move to a position to couple the adjacent cars. 1

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described and the novel features thereof defined in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mine car equipped with a coupling constructed in accordance with the invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a mine car illustrating the coupling link.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the adjacent car to be coupled, illustrating the stationary coupling pin.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view illustrating the coupled ends of adjacent mine cars.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the coupling link as moving vertically for positioning over the stationary coupling pin.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicates an end of a mine car floor which projects beyond the front wall 6 at the end of the mine car.

The reference character 7 indicates a bearing member which is formed by bending the forward end of bar 13 downwardly and rearwardly upon itself, as better shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Extending through the floor bar 13 is a securing bolt 8 that passes through the extension 5, the bolt 8 also passing through the bearing member 7, in which the shaft 11 of the coupling link 12 is pivotally mounted. The forward end of this link is curved upward to ride over the inclined edge of the keeper to be hereinafter described.

The bar 13 extends throughout the length of the mine car and has its forward end 14 extended through the front wall 6 of the mine car. this bar 13 is further bolted to the floor of the car by means of bolts 15 that are positioned in spaced relation with respectto each other, throughout the length of the bar 13.

As shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings, the bar 13 has its other end extended through the rear end wall 16 of the coal car body, where it is bolted to the extended end 17 of the car floor, as by means of the bolt 18.

It might be here stated that 2 This bolt 18 also extends through the plate 19 which is fitted over the extension 17 and rear end of the bar 13. The forward end of the plate 19 is extended downwardly at 20 where it is secured to the forward edge of the extension 17, by means of securing members 21.

The male section of the coupler is indicated by the reference character 22 and embodies a stationary upstanding keeper which is formed into a loop and secured to the extension 17, with the keeper being sloped towards the rear wall 16 of the adjacent coal car to be coupled.

Because of the construction of this male section 22, it is obvious that the link 12 in contacting the male section 22, will slide over the male section 22in a manner as shown by Fig. 6 of the drawings, and fall downwardly over the male section 22 securing the adjacent ends'of the coal cars to be coupled, in coupled relation.

As shown by the drawings, the side edges of the plate 19 are extended upwardly and curved inwardly at 23 guarding the link against upward movement to become accidently disconnected from the keeper should the link move slightly forward while in operation.

Associated with the coupling link 12, is an operating arm 24, which is pivotally mounted in bearing 9 secured to the upper surface of the extension 5 in advance of the bearing member 7. The operating arm 24 is provided with an ofiset portion 25 that moves against one side edge of the extension 5. A portion of arm 24 is directed forwardly at 26, the forwardly extended end thereofbeing looped around one arm of the link 12 at 27.

A handle 28 is formed on one end of the arm 24 and is held normally in its upright position, by the weight of the coupling link 12 which normally rests in a horizontal position.

Thus it will be seen that when it is desired to uncouple adjacent cars, the operating arm may be forced rearwardly, which elevates the coupling link 12 disengaging the link from the male section 22 of the coupling carried by the adjacent car to be coupled, thereby disconnecting or uncoupling the cars.

When it is desired to couple two mine cars, the adjacent ends of the cars are moved together, the coupling link 12 sliding upwardly over the male section 22 carried by the adjacent car, whereupon the link 12 will fall downwardly under the male section or pin 22, coupling the cars, the weight of the link 12 together with the weight of the operating arm, holding the link in its coupled position.

In View of the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a coupling for mine cars, which is exceptionally light and durable, and one which may be automatically operated to couple the adjacent ends of cars by moving the cars towards each other.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A mine car coupling comprising a downwardly inclined end portion, a coupling head including a substantially triangular coupling link pivotally connected to one end of a mine car, an operating arm, including an offset portion and a forwardly extended loop portion, pivotally mounted on said mine carundersaid coupling link, said looped portionof said operating arm surrounding one leg of said link, the other end of said arm extending laterally and upwardly providing an operating handle, said offset portion of said arm bearing against said downwardly inclined portion, a downwardly inclined plate secured to the upper surface of the extended end of the floor of the car to be coupled, a stationary coupling pin mounted on the end of the car to be coupled, extending through said plate, said stationary coupling pin comprising a looped rearwardly inclined keeper extending above the normal level of said link, said link having an upwardly inclined forward end adapted to ride over said stationary coupling pin, and up standing inwardly inclined flanges formed on said plate arranged at opposite side edges of said plate, said flanges providing lateral guards, to prevent lateral movement of said link with respect to the coupling pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Shelly Apr. 16,1872

Great Britain July 19, 1938 

